SUVA: The
Fiji military forces said today alleged acts of brutality by
soldiers will be investigated as a newspaper editorial
warned there could be no justification for attacks on
civilians.

Military spokesman Lieutenant Semi Koroi told
the Sunday Times the army had received a complaint and
investigations had started.

"Those who are found to be
guilty of the act will be disciplined accordingly," said Lt
Koroi.

On Saturday, the Fiji Times reported that Naibita
villagers in the western Viti Levu area of Wainibuka had
complained of a brutal assault by soldiers who were camped a
Rokovuaka in neighbouring Ra province.

The villagers told
the newspaper they had lived in fear since soldiers stormed
their homes in search of notorious prison fugitive Alifereti
Nimacere, who was linked to rebels in the recent political
insurrection.

They wrote to the military commander,
Commodore Frank Bainimarama, requesting an
investigation.

Lt Koroi said if villagers at Savusavu,
near the national hydro-electric power plant at Monasavu in
the rugged Viti Levu highlands, wanted their case
investigated, they need to make a formal complaint. The
villagers had also accused the military of brutality.

In
an editorial today, the Sunday Times said: "There can be no
justification of the attacks on civilians by members of the
military.

"At least two rebel supporters have been
hospitalised in such condition as to warrant a major
investigation into the tactics used by soldiers.

"One of
the rebels had a broken jaw and cracked ribs. The other is
learning to walk...

"The excuse? An operation to find
escaped prisoners and rebel supporters.

"But none of these
actions are acceptable."

The Sunday Times added that the
role of the military - which provides soldiers for
peacekeeper units in the Lebanon and East Timor - was to
restore law and order, not contribute to its
demise.

In response to the challenges facing Scoop and the media industry we’ve instituted an Ethical Paywall to keep the news freely available to the public.
People who use Scoop for work need to be licensed through a ScoopPro subscription under this model, they also get access to exclusive news tools.

Limiting global warming to 1.5°C will require “far-reaching and unprecedented changes,” such as ditching coal for electricity to slash carbon emissions, says a special report that finds some of the actions needed are already under way, but the world must move faster… More>>

Oxfam and its local partners are standing by to deploy emergency staff and resources to the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, as an estimated 1.5 million people are thought to be affected by the massive earthquake and tsunami that hit on Friday. More>>

“This is a great day for India and for all those who believe in the universality of human rights," Bachelet said. "With this landmark decision, the Indian Supreme Court has taken a big step forward for freedom and equality...” More>>